Mexico's most charming crafts store

Insider Tips
The owner's work there, so if you ask nicely, they'll let you go into their workshop

Casa Ortega is quite possibly the most beautiful and charming souvenir shop in Mexico. It is located in the village of Metepec, about an hour away from Mexico City.

The facade of the store looks like a house, making the shop hard to spot, so it often goes unnoticed. The outside if the house is painted blue and orange and it is located across the street from El Calvario, the town’s main cathedral.

Inside the shop you’ll find crafts made by local artisans from various materials such as clay, adobe, glass and more. You’ll find a variety of authentic items such as catrinas, suns, skulls and more. Some of the crafts are so intricate that it can take months for the artisans to finish them.

While you’re here, check out the rest of Metepec, a colourful little village most foreigners don’t ever hear about.

How to get there

Take a bus from Mexico City (Terminal Autobuses del Norte or Terminal Observatorio) to Toluca. From the terminal, either take a taxi to the center of Metepec or a local bus that says "Metepec" (buses are usually white and pink)